Ernest Napoleon, is a Russian–Tanzanian film producer and actor.[1][2]

Ernest Napoleon
Born
Ernest Napoleon

Moscow, Russia
NationalityRussian
Tanzanian
EducationComputer Science degree
Occupation(s)Actor, producer, writer
Years active2015–present

Personal life

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He was born in Moscow, Russia to a Tanzanian father and a Russian mother. When he was 5 years of age, his family moved to Tanzania.[2] After living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for 14 years and Los Angeles for 8 years, he currently relocated to Stockholm, Sweden.[1]

Career

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At the age of 3, he made his first acting in a Christmas play titled New Year's in the old Soviet Union. While in Tanzania, he worked as a TV presenter for EATV, the largest TV station in East Africa at the time. He also performed as a DJ artist at 'Club Billicanas', a prominent nightclub in Africa where he became a recording artist of Bongo Flava, a music genre in East Africa. He performed there by the name of 'MC Napo'.[2]

As a teen, Ernest moved to Los Angeles and obtained a computer science degree. Then he studied acting and writing for 7 years while in Los Angeles. With the help of his friends and colleagues, he made his maiden feature film Going Bongo.[2] The film is inspired by the life of a British surgeon, Dr Lewis Burger,[3] in which Ernest played the titular role.[4] His film is regarded as the first international film produced by a Tanzanian and the first ever East African film to be accepted by iTunes.[1][5]

In 2017, he made the film Kiumeni which was shot in Dar es Salaam. The film received critical acclaim and later won two awards at the Zanzibar International Film Festival.[2] He is the founder of the production house, Enigma Pictures. In 2017, he was appointed as the president of 'D Street Media Group', international production and distribution company.[6] He also produced the TV Series Mother City and third film Peponi. During the same time, he co-produced the British film Let No Man Know which rotates around a true story about an African American slave.[1]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Genre Ref.
2015 Going Bongo Executive producer, writer, actor: Dr.Lewis Burger Film
2017 Kiumeni Executive producer, writer, actor: Gue Film
TBD Peponi Producer, writer, actor: Dullah Film
TBD Let No Man Know Producer Film

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ernest Napoleon bio". Mymip. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "AFRICAN FILM STARS ON LA RED CARPET". africanindy. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Ernest Napoleon: The Bongo Magician". standardmedia. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Going Bongo". goingbongo. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Chicks Chat With Ernest Napoleon". thoselondonchicks. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Top East African producer joins US-based media group as president". edaily. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
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